The Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsements are for students who are pursuing, or who have already earned, an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL). Licensed teachers may enroll in the endorsement programs without being admitted to a degree program.
The programs are designed to prepare educators to work with culturally and linguistically diverse students in the PK-12 classroom. Coursework is oriented toward building competencies in praxis and pedagogy for teaching emergent bilingual learners as supported by research and theories. It aims to extend both theoretical and practical knowledge about teaching and learning English in order to meet the needs of teachers in diverse contexts and their students.
The curriculum prepares educators to be effective in improving student learning and development in their content area as well as the acquisition of English as an additional language. It is designed to help teachers:
- develop a multicultural perspective that fosters inclusive pedagogies
- understand the cultural, linguistic, and sociopolitical milieu and their contextual basis on the education and language acquisition of emergent bilingual learners
- demonstrate knowledge about the communicative and academic processes for language acquisition
- apply linguistically and culturally responsive strategies and equitable assessments within their pedagogy
- adopt a professional identity that is characterized by self-reflection, knowledge, skills, and leadership to effectively advocate for multilingual learners
Candidates seeking the Bilingual endorsement in Illinois must achieve a passing score on the target language proficiency exam, administered by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Please refer to ISBE’s website for more information.
General Graduate Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.
New students are accepted into most graduate degree-seeking, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study for in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Students seeking to change programs may do so by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app. Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards and meet published program admission requirements at the time of requesting a program change. Program changes will be processed and recorded for the subsequent semester.
Endorsement Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ESL-6027 | Assessment of Language Minority Students 1 | 3 |
| ESL-6300 | Foundations of Bilingual/Bicultural Education 1 | 3 |
| ESL-6350 | Cross-Cultural Studies: Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students 1 | 3 |
| ESL-6610 | Language and Linguistics 1 | 3 |
| ESL-6620 | Teaching English as a Second Language 1 | 3 |
| ESL-6630 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students 1 | 3 |
| EDU-6635 | Methods and Materials for Teaching in a Bilingual Classroom 2 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
- 1
Course required for the ESL endorsement in Illinois.
- 2
Students seeking successful completion of this course must be bilingual/proficient in a language other than English. Bilingual proficiency is defined as being able to demonstrate adequate speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills (in real-world situations in a spontaneous and non-rehearsed context) in a non-English language in which transitional bilingual education is offered in Illinois. 100 hours of fieldwork with school-age Bilingual and English learners are embedded within and acquired as part of the coursework
Non-degree Completion Requirements
- Have on file an application for this non-degree-seeking program.
- Complete, for the program being sought:
- the credit hours and levels as designated,
- within the specified time limit,
- with course grades of C- or higher,
- with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Students completing multiple advanced programs or degrees at CUC must have a 3.0 GPA in each academic program in addition to a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Have on file approved “Graduate Transfer Credit Approval” form(s), "Course Substitution" form(s), or evaluation(s), if applicable.
- Have on file the Intent to Graduate/Complete form with the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline.
- Approval of the faculty.
- All administrative obligations to CUC must be cleared in order to prompt the release of CUC transcripts.
Every attempt has been made to include information to aid the student with information about his/her program requirements. It is, however, the student’s responsibility to complete all steps and meet all deadlines relevant to completion requirements.
This program does not lead to initial Illinois licensure (PEL) but will, through direct university entitlement, lead to an additional credential on your existing PEL. The awarding of this credential will require the completion of this academic program and an existing and active PEL, and may require a passing score on the corresponding Illinois State Licensure Test(s), associated work experience, a previous master's degree, and completion of a state training academy. For specific requirements regarding this credential please refer to ISBE’s webpage or contact the Licensure Officer at licensure@cuchicago.edu.